Bruins Notebook: Marchand responds to homophobic slur on Twitter

Saturday

Dec 31, 2016 at 7:22 PMDec 31, 2016 at 7:23 PM

The Bruins left winger has earned raves in the days since Thursday night’s 4-2 victory over the Sabres at Buffalo by taking to his Twitter account to drive a member off the social media site, after he’d directed a homophobic tweet toward Marchand and teammate Zdeno Chara.

Mike Loftus The Patriot Ledger

BOSTON – The 37 goals he scored last season, followed by five more – including the tournament winner – in the World Cup of Hockey tournament, offered proof that Brad Marchand has a sweet pair of hands.

He’s pretty effective when he only uses fingers and thumbs, too.

The Bruins left winger has earned raves in the days since Thursday night’s 4-2 victory over the Sabres at Buffalo by taking to his Twitter account to drive a member off the social media site, after he’d directed a homophobic tweet toward Marchand and teammate Zdeno Chara.

“I just didn’t think it was right,” said Marchand, whose response that “This derogatory statement is offensive to so many people around the world. (You’re) the kind of kid parents are ashamed of” led fans – and even some detractors – to attack the tweeter to such an extent, he deleted his account.

“I have a few friends who are in same-sex relationships, so I don’t stand for that,” Marchand continued. “I didn’t think it was right, and I thought I had to respond.”

Marchand isn’t one to respond to much of what’s said about him on social media, as much as he might like to.

“We’re in the spotlight. It’s tough to respond. We get criticized way beyond what we probably should,” he said. “I just figure that most people can say whatever they want behind a keyboard, and they never have to answer for it.”

Thursday night’s tweet, however, was a special case.

“I thought it was a pretty bad comment,” Marchand said. “It’s not right to go after people like that. I just figured I’d get it out there.

“I knew everybody would jump on it, and kind of go after the guy … It worked. The guy ended up deleting his (account).”

BACKES OUT

After two days of consulting with physicians, the Bruins released an announcement from general manager Don Sweeney that winger David Backes had been diagnosed with a concussion and will be sidelined indefinitely. Backes was hurt in Thursday’s first period on a check thrown by Sabres forward William Carrier, who was penalized for an illegal check to the head.

“Until we’re told by doctors that this is what he’s got, you kind of suspect, and keep your fingers crossed that hopefully, you’re wrong,” coach Claude Julien said. “But in this case here … my suspicions were right.”

Backes, who has struggled to get untracked in his first season as a Bruin after 10 years with the Blues, had just started to come to life, with two goals and three points in his previous three games. He’s third on the team with nine goals, and has 19 points in 33 games. He missed five games earlier this season, after undergoing surgery on his elbow.

Backes did visit TD Garden early Saturday afternoon, but wasn’t seen in the press box, where injured and spare players usually watch games.

AROUND THE BOARDS

Denna Laing, who suffered major spinal injuries a year ago Saturday while representing the Boston Pride in the Outdoor Women’s Classic at Gillette Stadium, made a ceremonial puck drop from her wheelchair before Saturday’s game. Laing, a Marblehead native who played at Princeton University, was also a popular visitor to the Bruins’ dressing room after the game … During pre-game warmups, the Bruins hung jersey Nos. 10 and 19 from the glass behind their bench in a show of respect and sympathy for Falmouth High School hockey players Owen Higgins and James Lavin, who died in a Dec. 22 motor vehicle accident … Frank Vatrano’s first-period goal, his second in five games this season and the 10th of his 44-game career, was his first NHL goal at TD Garden … Saturday’s win completed a 4-0-0 sweep of the season series with Buffalo. The Sabres were the only NHL opponent the Bruins had never swept … With Backes out, Jimmy Hayes returned to the lineup after sitting out on Thursday. Winger Noel Acciari and defenseman Joe Morrow were the Bruins’ healthy scratches on Saturday.